Several decades ago I taught a values clarification class for Santa Clara University. Then, as I thought about the concept and prepared for the class, my own values were clarified. So it may be with the idea of ‘multitasking.’ Day by day I’m becoming more clarified on this phenomenon, and consequently day by day I find I’m swimming upstream with current culture but fortunately, now, more downstream with the validation of current science. Let me clarify.
Many, facing the challenges of the current generation, take it for granted that with the technology available to them it is necessary or desirable or even de rigueur to attend to several things at once. Consequently we have young people texting in church, talking on the cell-phone while driving, watching television on a split screen while information bars are streaming data below the visual images, playing video games while doing homework, and listening to music while doing everything.
Though simultaneous processing abilities may be fine for computers, and occasionally necessary, but to a much more limited extent than we sometimes realize, science is finding—as wise people have known for decades—that it can be counterproductive and even harmful for people when carried too far.
Prescient Eighteenth Century thinker Lord Chesterfield wrote this advice to one of his sons: “There is time enough for everything in the course of the day, if you do but one thing at once, but there is not time enough in the year, if you will do two things at a time.” That may, perhaps, be overstated, but is confirmed by one of the smartest men of all time, Isaac Newton, who, when asked about his particular genius, responded that when he had made any discoveries, it was “owing more to patient attention than to any other talent.” And William James, the eminent Nineteenth Century psychologist, wrote in Principles of Psychology echoing Lord Chesterfield’s observations, that the transition from youthful distraction to mature attention was in large part the result of personal mastery and discipline—and so was illustrative of character. “The faculty of voluntarily bringing back a wandering attention, over and over again,” he wrote, “is the very root of judgment, character, and will.”
In addition to these philosophical observations, numerous scientific studies are now showing the dangers of multitasking or diluting one’s attention. For example, it has now been confirmed that:
Overall I.Q. performance (clear thinking) is markedly lessened when people try to attend to too many things as once.
Personal relationships such as marriage, parenting, even friendships, suffer when one or both of the parties are distracted or attending to more than the person at hand.
Workplace productivity is diminished. Discussing multitasking with the New York Times in 2007, Jonathan B. Spira, an analyst at the business research firm Basex, estimated that extreme multitasking costs the U.S. economy $650 billion a year in lost productivity.
Related to the above is an increase in automobile and industrial accidents when people are distracted by electronic devices and are attending to more than the task at hand.
In my area of expertise, sports performance, the ability to fully attend to one thing—the task at hand—and eliminate the past, the future, and all distractions is often the thing that separates the winner from the also-ran.
As a result of these and other accumulating data, best-selling business advice author Timothy Ferriss warns of the dangers of multitasking and makes a strong case for “single-tasking” in his book, The 4-Hour Workweek.
To rest my point, Christine Rosen, senior editor of The New Atlantis magazine, wrote in “The Myth of Multitasking,” “that given what neuroscience and anecdotal evidence have shown us, this state of constant intentional self-distraction could well be of profound detriment to individual and cultural well-being. When people do their work only in the ‘interstices of their mind-wandering,’ with crumbs of attention rationed out among many competing tasks, their culture may gain in information, but it will surely weaken in wisdom.”
That is something to think about.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
My Guiding Maxims
•One thing leads to another. Ask, “Where could this take me?” “Do I want to go there?”
•Never, Never, Never forget who you are, what and whom you represent and what you ultimately want to achieve. ‘What ere thou art, act well thy part.’ Don’t get derailed.
•Measure all things by value anticipated or received. Ask, “Is it worth it?” Count the cost.
•Live the golden rule. Strive for charity in all interactions. Be patient. Be kind.
•When someone is speaking to you focus totally on what they are trying to tell you.
•Be grateful to all who have contributed to your life. Express it. You didn’t get here alone.
•Always leave and maintain a margin of safety, a reserve, a cushion, a spare, a surplus. Don’t overdraw your accounts—financial or emotional—or take anything to the limit.
•Walk away from trouble if you can; and you usually can. But don’t compromise yourself.
•It is better to keep peace than to insist that you are right. To win a battle by force of power or position then to lose the war is folly.
•Seek counsel from the wise; especially from the scriptures and Church leaders.
•Don’t say the first thing that comes to your mind. Weigh your words then choose carefully what you say. ‘Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can break my heart.’
•Keep a record or a copy of everything; record it, date it, document it, file it.
•Never take more than you give; always give back more than you take. No entitlements.
•Don’t be tempted to put off to later duties you are prompted to do and have opportunity to do today. Work while you can and work hard; it takes the same amount of time.
•Do not ask, or expect, someone else to do for you what you can, and should do for yourself. Don’t be lazy.
•Never despair. Don’t quit. With God’s help and approval you can get through anything.
•Avoid debt like a plague. Having sufficient for your needs with a sufficient reserve is enough and will be enough, ‘but before ye seek for riches, seek for the kingdom of God.’
•Maintain your health and physical fitness. Pay the price, or you will pay the price.
•Do everything in your power to see that your wife and family or friend is exalted.
•Never lose sight of the big picture, the long view, the ultimate goal. Think of it often.
•A cheerful attitude and a smile is worth more than many words. Don’t talk big; live big.
•Don’t make big decisions on the spur of the moment. Think it through.Wait at least a day.
•Politeness and punctuality pay plentifully. Be on time and be prepared.
•Pray about everything. Heed your conscience; that is God’s answer to your prayer.
•Believe that “angels above are silent notes taking….” Behave accordingly.
•A commitment is a commitment; fulfill it at any cost. Keep promises.
•Seek out great people in history, in literature, in life, and emulate their finest qualities.
•If you know it is not good or right don’t investigate it; don’t entertain it; don’t touch it; don’t even go near it.
•It always takes more time than you originally guessed; it always costs more than you originally thought. Plan accordingly.
•Never, Never, Never forget who you are, what and whom you represent and what you ultimately want to achieve. ‘What ere thou art, act well thy part.’ Don’t get derailed.
•Measure all things by value anticipated or received. Ask, “Is it worth it?” Count the cost.
•Live the golden rule. Strive for charity in all interactions. Be patient. Be kind.
•When someone is speaking to you focus totally on what they are trying to tell you.
•Be grateful to all who have contributed to your life. Express it. You didn’t get here alone.
•Always leave and maintain a margin of safety, a reserve, a cushion, a spare, a surplus. Don’t overdraw your accounts—financial or emotional—or take anything to the limit.
•Walk away from trouble if you can; and you usually can. But don’t compromise yourself.
•It is better to keep peace than to insist that you are right. To win a battle by force of power or position then to lose the war is folly.
•Seek counsel from the wise; especially from the scriptures and Church leaders.
•Don’t say the first thing that comes to your mind. Weigh your words then choose carefully what you say. ‘Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can break my heart.’
•Keep a record or a copy of everything; record it, date it, document it, file it.
•Never take more than you give; always give back more than you take. No entitlements.
•Don’t be tempted to put off to later duties you are prompted to do and have opportunity to do today. Work while you can and work hard; it takes the same amount of time.
•Do not ask, or expect, someone else to do for you what you can, and should do for yourself. Don’t be lazy.
•Never despair. Don’t quit. With God’s help and approval you can get through anything.
•Avoid debt like a plague. Having sufficient for your needs with a sufficient reserve is enough and will be enough, ‘but before ye seek for riches, seek for the kingdom of God.’
•Maintain your health and physical fitness. Pay the price, or you will pay the price.
•Do everything in your power to see that your wife and family or friend is exalted.
•Never lose sight of the big picture, the long view, the ultimate goal. Think of it often.
•A cheerful attitude and a smile is worth more than many words. Don’t talk big; live big.
•Don’t make big decisions on the spur of the moment. Think it through.Wait at least a day.
•Politeness and punctuality pay plentifully. Be on time and be prepared.
•Pray about everything. Heed your conscience; that is God’s answer to your prayer.
•Believe that “angels above are silent notes taking….” Behave accordingly.
•A commitment is a commitment; fulfill it at any cost. Keep promises.
•Seek out great people in history, in literature, in life, and emulate their finest qualities.
•If you know it is not good or right don’t investigate it; don’t entertain it; don’t touch it; don’t even go near it.
•It always takes more time than you originally guessed; it always costs more than you originally thought. Plan accordingly.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Who's in Charge Here?
Iconic artist Arnold Friberg died on July 1st. Among other heroic paintings of his was that of George Washington kneeling in prayer with his horse at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania during our Revolutionary War. He told the Salt Lake Tribune in 2000 that “I did that [painting, The Prayer at Valley Forge] to pay tribute to Washington, to portray the burden that fell upon one lonely man.” Friberg went on: “I’m a hero worshiper. I have to respect, almost idolize, whatever I paint. I don’t belong in the art world at all; I’m a storyteller.”
That painting tells a great story. To me, the story is that General Washington, ostensibly in charge of America’s destiny, recognized his dependence upon Almighty God and knew that he needed God’s help and blessings if we were to succeed in our great endeavor. Prayer was the key to getting that help.
Like Arnold Friberg, I, too, have my heroes, and I know my source of help. Even surpassing George Washington, in my mind, is Abraham Lincoln. In Meridian Magazine (online edition) I recently saw a short You Tube video featuring a painting by Larry Winborg of Abraham Lincoln kneeling in prayer. The painting was surely inspired by Friberg’s classic of Washington, and like it, the subject matter was completely historic. With what was to become the turning point of the Civil War at Gettysburg Lincoln said that “I got down on my knees before Almighty God and prayed mightily before him… [and] soon a sweet comfort crept into my soul; the feeling came that God had taken the whole business into his own hands and that things would go right at Gettysburg.”
Notice that Lincoln didn’t say “I said a prayer,” he said “I…prayed mightily before him….”
A little verse that I keep in my head goes,
“The heights by great men reached and kept
were not attained by sudden flight.
But they, while their companions slept,
were upward toiling in the night.”
Like Washington and Lincoln, I think a little of the toiling we all must do, when we feel our own feeble efforts are insufficient to the task at hand—which is most of the time--is done on our knees and is done in “mighty prayer.”
“Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.”
(James Montgomery)
That painting tells a great story. To me, the story is that General Washington, ostensibly in charge of America’s destiny, recognized his dependence upon Almighty God and knew that he needed God’s help and blessings if we were to succeed in our great endeavor. Prayer was the key to getting that help.
Like Arnold Friberg, I, too, have my heroes, and I know my source of help. Even surpassing George Washington, in my mind, is Abraham Lincoln. In Meridian Magazine (online edition) I recently saw a short You Tube video featuring a painting by Larry Winborg of Abraham Lincoln kneeling in prayer. The painting was surely inspired by Friberg’s classic of Washington, and like it, the subject matter was completely historic. With what was to become the turning point of the Civil War at Gettysburg Lincoln said that “I got down on my knees before Almighty God and prayed mightily before him… [and] soon a sweet comfort crept into my soul; the feeling came that God had taken the whole business into his own hands and that things would go right at Gettysburg.”
Notice that Lincoln didn’t say “I said a prayer,” he said “I…prayed mightily before him….”
A little verse that I keep in my head goes,
“The heights by great men reached and kept
were not attained by sudden flight.
But they, while their companions slept,
were upward toiling in the night.”
Like Washington and Lincoln, I think a little of the toiling we all must do, when we feel our own feeble efforts are insufficient to the task at hand—which is most of the time--is done on our knees and is done in “mighty prayer.”
“Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
Uttered or unexpressed,
The motion of a hidden fire
That trembles in the breast.”
(James Montgomery)
Friday, July 9, 2010
Information Overload
I am sensitive to the fact that people today are bombarded with things to read, to see, to listen to. The time spent in telephone conversations, text messages and other social networking messages young people are sending and receiving, for example, is staggering. But do these electronic-sustained missives really contain content or substance commensurate with the time we spend engaged with them? Are they satisfying and growth-promoting?
As a counterpoint, and since I am inviting others to engage with me, I intend in Omnium-Gatherum to always have something to say that is new, meaningful, thought-provoking or otherwise worthwhile; otherwise there is no point in writing the postings—or your reading them. Even 2600 years ago it was recorded on some metal plates: “[my successors] shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men.”
I do not want to be like the lawyer of whom Abraham Lincoln said, “He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas better than any man I have ever met.”
The observation I share today, then, is that sheer verbosity whether in electronic text, ink text, or verbal ‘conversation’ might, if we are purveyors of it, with benefit be reevaluated. (This sentence might be reevaluated.) In professor and editor William Zinsser’s classic guide, On Writing Well, he said to “simplify, simplify, simplify,” and that “writing improves in direct ratio to the number of things we can keep out of it that…don’t serve any purpose.”
Two guidelines each of us might keep in mind are these: (1) Man—and woman—has been given two ears and one mouth; we should use them proportionately. (2) Remember the case of the very pretty woman who was tediously loquacious who complained one day to a distinguished matron that she was constantly tormented but then suddenly dropped by her suitors. “I may be able to help you, my dear,” she said. “It is very easy to get rid of them. All you have to do is to open your mouth and start speaking.”
As a counterpoint, and since I am inviting others to engage with me, I intend in Omnium-Gatherum to always have something to say that is new, meaningful, thought-provoking or otherwise worthwhile; otherwise there is no point in writing the postings—or your reading them. Even 2600 years ago it was recorded on some metal plates: “[my successors] shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men.”
I do not want to be like the lawyer of whom Abraham Lincoln said, “He can compress the most words into the smallest ideas better than any man I have ever met.”
The observation I share today, then, is that sheer verbosity whether in electronic text, ink text, or verbal ‘conversation’ might, if we are purveyors of it, with benefit be reevaluated. (This sentence might be reevaluated.) In professor and editor William Zinsser’s classic guide, On Writing Well, he said to “simplify, simplify, simplify,” and that “writing improves in direct ratio to the number of things we can keep out of it that…don’t serve any purpose.”
Two guidelines each of us might keep in mind are these: (1) Man—and woman—has been given two ears and one mouth; we should use them proportionately. (2) Remember the case of the very pretty woman who was tediously loquacious who complained one day to a distinguished matron that she was constantly tormented but then suddenly dropped by her suitors. “I may be able to help you, my dear,” she said. “It is very easy to get rid of them. All you have to do is to open your mouth and start speaking.”
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Day After, July 5th, 2010
I am an idealist. That was the term I used back in the 1960’s--and still would use-- when my teachers asked their students to take a philosophical stand and then defend it. I believe there are such things as absolute truths and moral imperatives. I believe there is a plan of happiness in the universe and ideals we should try to attain. The older I get the more I am sure of it.
I do not believe that empiricism or pragmatism or rationalism or socialism or any other man-made ‘ism’ ever will get us very far on the path of right purpose or discovery of the great ideals. Therefore I do not limit the tools in my intellectual toolbox to those politically-acceptable, socially-popular, God-denying approaches to finding the great truths or living a morally acceptable life before my peers or my God.
I believe in revelation, in intuition, in conscience, in sudden bursts of insight. And I believe that they are the ‘power tools’ to help us in our quest for the good, the right, the ideal, the pursuit of things of lasting value and of virtue.
So, let me briefly explain why I believe ‘The day after’ is a worthy subject for a posting.
Today is the day after Independence Day in the United States of America. I believe there are many people in this ‘land of the free and home of the brave’ who hold with me that freedom under law and being brave in the face of threats to our lives, our liberties or our sacred honor are values we should hold dear and strive to defend. We behaved like we believed it yesterday as we sang our great national anthems, listened to patriotic speeches, enjoyed the American flags and buntings, and were awed by the ‘rockets red glare’ where our communities didn’t have ordinances against our celebrations. The question is, will we behave like we believe it tomorrow and next week and next month?
I therefore extend this challenge made on the 5th of July to the day after Hanukah, or the day after Christmas and Easter, the day after Thanksgiving and Memorial Day, the day or week or month after any of our significant days of appreciation and remembrance: I challenge you to retain the kindled feelings of appreciation, of renewed determination, and of hope engendered, and live your life in pursuit of the noble ideals that these dates signify.
It may be a reordering thought to have these signal days last more than 24 hours. If so, then let’s do a reordering.
I do not believe that empiricism or pragmatism or rationalism or socialism or any other man-made ‘ism’ ever will get us very far on the path of right purpose or discovery of the great ideals. Therefore I do not limit the tools in my intellectual toolbox to those politically-acceptable, socially-popular, God-denying approaches to finding the great truths or living a morally acceptable life before my peers or my God.
I believe in revelation, in intuition, in conscience, in sudden bursts of insight. And I believe that they are the ‘power tools’ to help us in our quest for the good, the right, the ideal, the pursuit of things of lasting value and of virtue.
So, let me briefly explain why I believe ‘The day after’ is a worthy subject for a posting.
Today is the day after Independence Day in the United States of America. I believe there are many people in this ‘land of the free and home of the brave’ who hold with me that freedom under law and being brave in the face of threats to our lives, our liberties or our sacred honor are values we should hold dear and strive to defend. We behaved like we believed it yesterday as we sang our great national anthems, listened to patriotic speeches, enjoyed the American flags and buntings, and were awed by the ‘rockets red glare’ where our communities didn’t have ordinances against our celebrations. The question is, will we behave like we believe it tomorrow and next week and next month?
I therefore extend this challenge made on the 5th of July to the day after Hanukah, or the day after Christmas and Easter, the day after Thanksgiving and Memorial Day, the day or week or month after any of our significant days of appreciation and remembrance: I challenge you to retain the kindled feelings of appreciation, of renewed determination, and of hope engendered, and live your life in pursuit of the noble ideals that these dates signify.
It may be a reordering thought to have these signal days last more than 24 hours. If so, then let’s do a reordering.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Why am I doing this?
The last half of the title of a book I read many decades ago may give a clue: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. I unabashedly hope that some of the things I comment on will influence people for the good; winning friends is not something I’m too worried about.
Someone, maybe Stephen R. Covey, said that we all have an intrinsic need to ‘live, to love, and to leave a legacy.’ Maybe that’s it—I’m worried about leaving a legacy or at least having made a good showing in life or leaving evidence in someone else’s life that I’ve made a difference. I’m always worried about that in my children’s lives; not for me or with a focus on me, but that something I said or did could enrich their lives. That, too, was and is an important goal for me in my teaching-- in my public school teaching, in over forty years of Church teaching, always in the teaching of my family, and for you in Omnium-Gatherum.
An aphorism that has stuck in my mind is:
‘He who would make footprints in the sands of time should wear his work boots.’ (author unremembered)
The work that I am trying to craft here, then, is to express my thoughts in such a way that a residual-- an encouragement, a motivation, perhaps a new direction, or new resolution is left that you will pick up on and that your life will be enriched. I think too many of us are stuck, tracking along in a rut, not making a conscious effort for self-improvement. It is never too late to try again. Maybe you will get something here that will give you a jump start if you need it.
I am reading a book, that I don’t particularly like, about a man (Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, by Walter Isaacson) who did have a desire for self-improvement but the focus always seemed to be on ambitions for himself without a whole lot of regard for others. I hope my view of him changes by the time I get to the end of the book.
But selfishness or self-aggrandizement is not my goal. I think it is a poison for anyone who allows himself or herself to be caught in this kind of self-delusion. I have found that service to others is much more satisfying, and much more becoming. My life has been exceedingly blessed by being on both ends of this thing called service.
So I end today with this thought from the Bible following a nice little speech given by Solomon that I would like you to think about: “ And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart…and I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour….” (1Kings 3:11-13)
That is my wish—for me and for you—at least the part before “riches and honour.” Remember, Solomon didn't ask for these things--neither should we.
Someone, maybe Stephen R. Covey, said that we all have an intrinsic need to ‘live, to love, and to leave a legacy.’ Maybe that’s it—I’m worried about leaving a legacy or at least having made a good showing in life or leaving evidence in someone else’s life that I’ve made a difference. I’m always worried about that in my children’s lives; not for me or with a focus on me, but that something I said or did could enrich their lives. That, too, was and is an important goal for me in my teaching-- in my public school teaching, in over forty years of Church teaching, always in the teaching of my family, and for you in Omnium-Gatherum.
An aphorism that has stuck in my mind is:
‘He who would make footprints in the sands of time should wear his work boots.’ (author unremembered)
The work that I am trying to craft here, then, is to express my thoughts in such a way that a residual-- an encouragement, a motivation, perhaps a new direction, or new resolution is left that you will pick up on and that your life will be enriched. I think too many of us are stuck, tracking along in a rut, not making a conscious effort for self-improvement. It is never too late to try again. Maybe you will get something here that will give you a jump start if you need it.
I am reading a book, that I don’t particularly like, about a man (Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, by Walter Isaacson) who did have a desire for self-improvement but the focus always seemed to be on ambitions for himself without a whole lot of regard for others. I hope my view of him changes by the time I get to the end of the book.
But selfishness or self-aggrandizement is not my goal. I think it is a poison for anyone who allows himself or herself to be caught in this kind of self-delusion. I have found that service to others is much more satisfying, and much more becoming. My life has been exceedingly blessed by being on both ends of this thing called service.
So I end today with this thought from the Bible following a nice little speech given by Solomon that I would like you to think about: “ And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart…and I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honour….” (1Kings 3:11-13)
That is my wish—for me and for you—at least the part before “riches and honour.” Remember, Solomon didn't ask for these things--neither should we.
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